Features and Educational Goals of the Doctoral Programs

To fulfil FWU’s motto of “Developing Female Leaders for the Next Generation” in the field of humanities, the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers doctoral programs in Language and Culture and Social Sciences.
The Doctor’s Program for Language and Culture is divided into two specializations, Japanese Language and Culture and English Language Culture, while the Doctoral Program for Social Sciences offers a choice between International Industrial Sciences and International Relations. The programs are designed to develop the expertise and practical skills required of advanced professionals in their respective areas of specialization.

Diploma Policy

The Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences confers a doctoral degree on students who have

• (1) gained the required credits and are able to (a) work independently and thrive in society and/or the academic field by using their specialized knowledge and skills, broad perspectives, sound judgment, and analytical skills, and (b) overcome the challenges women face in different stages of life to work in a specialized profession in Japan and overseas as a next-generation leader; and
• (2) enrolled at FWU for the specified number of years, successfully defended their dissertation or research paper on a particular topic, and passed the final examination.

Curriculum Policy

To realize the Graduate School’s purposes and objectives set out in the diploma policy, the Doctoral Program for Humanities and Social Sciences aims to foster (a) specialists with advanced research skills and leadership potential, and (b) leaders who possess the flexibility to adapt and the acumen to succeed on the global stage. To achieve this aim, the graduate school offers curricula consisting of Seminar for MA Thesis and Major Subjects.

• (1) The Seminar for MA Thesis is provided to teach students how to write compelling dissertations. Through research projects in this course, students develop extensive knowledge in their area of specialization, the ability to interpret with insight, and strong analytical skills and articulateness. In addition to a primary supervisor, students are assigned a secondary supervisor who offers guidance and expertise that provide a different perspective from an adjacent discipline.
• (2) The Doctoral Seminar is offered under the specialized course category with the aim of developing research competencies. With instruction delivered by multiple teachers, this course allows students to delve deeply into their research topics from multiple viewpoints, integrate knowledge from various disciplines, and advance their research using original techniques.
• (3) A variety of lecture courses catering to the diverse research fields and interests of students are offered under the specialized course category. Taught by experts in the field, these lecture courses provide the expertise to produce a dissertation.
• (4) Internship programs are offered under the specialized course category to provide an opportunity for students to gain work experience at public organizations or research institutions related to their areas of specialization. Through practical work experience, the internship program promotes an understanding of the political and economic issues affecting various regions of the world and the challenges facing the international community, and develops a greater awareness of how their fields of study can contribute to the real world.
• (5) Individually-tailored research training is provided through collaborative teaching involving a primary and secondary supervisor whose expertise align with the student’s research field.
• (6) A guideline for rigorous and fair grading for graduate schools is established and the criteria set out in the guideline applied consistently to ensure proper grading.
• (7) Dissertations are evaluated strictly in accordance with the Assessment Criteria for Doctoral Dissertations of the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences to ensure that degree award decisions are made properly and fairly.

Admission Policy

The Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences seeks individuals and working adults with the aspiration to succeed in society as a highly-skilled female leader or pursue an academic career at a research and education institution. The admission criteria focus on the applicants’ skills to undertake independent, graduate-level research, academic expertise, and global competencies.
Specifically, applications are welcomed from individuals and working adults who demonstrate the following abilities, attributes, and attitudes:

• (1) The ability to undertake creative and independent research and analyses on such topics as human culture and language, international politics, economics, and societies, and the issues and phenomena caused by corporate and other activities.
• (2) A high standard of research ethics and an attitude characterized by enthusiasm and self-direction.
• (3) Motivation and practical capabilities to drive the creation of a gender-equal society in which women can thrive by sharing research findings with the public.

Admission of working adults

• (1) Acceptance of working adults
  There is growing momentum for university graduates working at companies, educational institutions, government ministries and agencies, and various other organizations to pursue graduate studies to further their knowledge and skills as part of life-long learning. To actively support working adults who desire to return to education, various scheduling accommodations are offered, including the Special Provision for Working Adults described below.
• (2) Special Provision for Working Adults
  The special provision for learning arrangements allows working teachers, public servants, company employees, organization and facility staff, and individuals with legitimate and extenuating circumstances, such as childbirth and elderly care, to take classes in the evening, on Saturdays, or during summer or winter breaks.

Program extension policy

To encourage motivated working adults to pursue graduate studies, the program extension policy grants students an extension of time to complete their program beyond the standard timeframe, based on a request for extension and a proposed schedule submitted by the student at the time of enrollment. The program extension policy applies also to individuals with legitimate and extenuating circumstances, such as childbirth and elderly care.
By taking advantage of this policy, students can be granted an extension up to a maximum of four years for the master’s programs and six years for the doctoral programs to earn the required credits for their degree without additional tuition or fees.